The Grand Ducal Couple of Luxembourg Receive a Gift from Moser at the Prestigious De Mains De Maîtres Biennale

At the official opening ceremony, Grand Duke Guillaume V of Luxembourg and his wife Stéphanie received an exceptional gift from the Moser glassworks – a hand-cut, richly engraved Belvedere bowl and glasses from the Art Nouveau-inspired Paul collection, all adorned with the Grand Ducal coat of arms. Both artworks were created in the noble alexandrite shade, a colour that shifts depending on the light and ranks among the most exclusive hues in Moser crystal. The gift from the Moser glassworks also carried a symbolic meaning, as it was intended as a congratulatory gesture. Grand Duke Guillaume V had, shortly before the opening of the biennale in October 2025, ascended the Luxembourg throne.

The masterful engraving on the Belvedere bowl was created by engraver Roman Chalupka, who presented his craft at the biennale to both the general public and industry experts. His meticulous work — defined by an exceptional attention to detail and strong artistic expression — stood out as one of the highlights of the Czech participation.

Return to Roots

“Czech participation as the honorary guest country is an opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy and showcase our creativity on the international stage,” said the Czech Ambassador to Luxembourg, Barbara Karpetová. According to the organisers, the Western world is increasingly returning to its roots — to traditional craftsmanship and to the values of handmade work. The biennale therefore presents creations whose worth grows over time, with the care and mastery their authors devote to every detail.

^{Mrs Barbara Karpetová, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Luxembourg}

A Global Leader in Craftsmanship

The idea to invite the Czech Republic as the honorary guest originated during the meeting of the Czech presidential couple with the Grand Ducal couple the previous year. Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg and the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, a unique opportunity emerged to present the richness of Czech craftsmanship to an international audience.

The 2025 De Mains De Maîtres Biennale, held from 19–24 November in the iconic building of the State Bank of Luxembourg, offered a representative cross-section of Czech glassmaking, ceramics, jewellery, textile art and design. Moser showcased a peacock vase with delicate engraving by Tomáš Lesser — recipient of the French Order of Arts and Letters — alongside the brutalist Magnus vase designed by Moser’s Creative Director Jan Plecháč, and the Microcosmos vase featuring engraving based on the artwork of illustrator Michal Bačák.

^{From left: Magnus vase, Peacock, and Microcosmos}

The Czech Republic’s participation in the De Mains De Maîtres Biennale not only significantly strengthened the international prestige of Czech craftsmanship, but also reinforced cultural and economic ties between the two countries. The biennale reaffirmed that handmade work, tradition and artistic craft maintain an irreplaceable role in the modern world — and that the Czech Republic truly stands among the global elite in this field.

^{Moser Export Manager Lenka Karonis with the Grand Ducal couple}